(Dave Varnado/Special to the AJC.)
When former Wheeler two-sport star Elijah Staley committed to Mississippi State as a member of the 2014 class, his intentions were to play both basketball and football for the Bulldogs. A series of events have made Staley's goal less attainable, but Michael Bonner of The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that's still a possibility.
From Bonner’s interview with Staley, who talked to Bulldogs basketball coach Ben Howland:
"I still plan on it. I talked to coach Howland in the spring," Staley said. "He said after the season's over make sure I'm healthy and everything and I can come back out there and try again."
The year before Staley arrived in Starkville, he was dismissed from Wheeler's football team over a disagreement with coaches over play-calling. In spite of the dismissal, Mississippi State stuck with its football scholarship offer to Staley. However, Staley has yet to play either sport for the Bulldogs, redshirting in football and suffering an injury that kept him out of basketball.
On the football team, Staley is vying for the No. 2 position at quarterback behind Dak Prescott. It’s non clear what his role on the basketball team will be given it’s Howland’s first season at the helm.
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